Control Circuit for Constant-Envelope Vector Power Amplification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional power amplifiers face a tradeoff between linearity and efficiency, with linear amplifiers being inefficient and non-linear amplifiers producing spectrally distorted output signals, especially in wireless communication systems, and existing outphasing techniques suffer from insertion loss and bandwidth limitations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of vector combining power amplification systems that decompose time-varying complex signals into constant envelope constituents, amplify these constituents, and sum them to minimize non-linear distortion while maximizing efficiency, using magnitude detectors, calculating and determining circuitries, and normalizing circuitry to optimize linearity and power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional linear power amplifiers are used to achieve high linearity, then output signal quality is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single complex signal amplification task into multiple parallel amplification paths (e.g., I-path and Q-path, or multiple constant envelope signal paths). Each path processes a simplified version of the signal with constant envelope, allowing efficient amplification while maintaining overall signal linearity through vector combining at the output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional single-dimensional amplitude modulation amplification to multi-dimensional vector signal processing. By decomposing the signal into orthogonal components (I and Q paths) and processing them separately in different dimensional spaces, the system achieves both efficiency and linearity that cannot be obtained in the traditional single-path approach.
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional non-linear power amplifiers are used to achieve high power efficiency, then power consumption is reduced, but output signal linearity deteriorates causing spectral distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the amplification process into multiple parallel paths where each path handles constant envelope signals. This segmentation allows each amplifier to operate in highly efficient non-linear modes while the overall system maintains linearity through the vector combining of the segmented constant envelope signals, eliminating spectral distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signal parameter representation from time-varying amplitude and phase to constant envelope signals with controlled phase relationships. By transforming the signal into constant envelope form before amplification and then reconstructing the original signal through vector combining, the system enables efficient non-linear amplification without spectral distortion.
3Power
If existing outphasing techniques use power combiners to combine constant envelope constituents, then signal amplification is achieved, but insertion loss increases and bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vector combining circuitry as an intermediary mechanism that replaces traditional power combiners. This vector combining approach directly adds the voltage signals from multiple constant envelope paths in a phase-coherent manner, achieving power combination without the resistive losses and bandwidth limitations inherent in traditional power combiner architectures.
4Power
If existing outphasing techniques use large combining elements, then signal combination is possible, but device size increases preventing monolithic integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces large physical combining elements with integrated vector combining circuitry that performs signal combination through controlled voltage addition. This intermediary circuit approach enables signal combination functionality to be implemented in compact, monolithic integrated circuit form factors, eliminating the need for large discrete combining elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes physical/mechanical combining elements (such as large transformers or hybrid couplers) with electronic vector combining circuitry. This substitution replaces bulky mechanical or electromagnetic combining structures with compact electronic circuits that achieve the same signal combination function through controlled voltage addition, enabling monolithic integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit is provided comprising detector circuitry, calculating circuitry, and determining circuitry. The detector circuitry is figured to generate an I data signal magnitude value of a sampled I data signal and a Q data signal magnitude value of a sampled Q data signal. The calculating circuitry is configured to calculate a phase shift angle φI between first and second equal and constant or substantially equal and constant envelope constituents of the sampled I data signal and to calculate a phase shift angle φQ between first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q data signal. The determining circuitry is configured to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled I signal and to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q signal.